On Sunday, Feb. 17, the UFC hosted its first card on the Worldwide Leader, ESPN. The fight card took place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.
In the night’s main event, former heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou welcomed former champion Cain Velasquez back to the Octagon. Ngannou got back in the win column in November with a 45-second destruction of Curtis Blaydes. Velasquez had been out of action for more than two years, most recently defeating Travis Browne inside the first round at UFC 200 in July of 2016.
Also on the card, lightweights Paul Felder and James Vick locked horns.
The 12-fight card kicked off with two preliminary-card bouts streaming live on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET. Four additional prelims followed on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, with the six-fight main card airing at 9 p.m. ET, also on ESPN.
Paul Felder def. James Vick by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Cynthia Calvillo def. Cortney Casey by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Kron Gracie def. Alex Caceres by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 2:06
Vicente Luque def. Bryan Barberena by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 4:54
Andre Fili def. Myles Jury by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Aljamain Sterling def. Jimmie Rivera by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Manny Bermudez def. Benito Lopez by submission (D’arce choke). Round 1, 3:09
Andrea Lee def. Ashlee Evans-Smith by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Nik Lentz def. Scott Holtzman by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Luke Sanders def. Renan Barão by TKO (punches). Round 2, 1:01
Emily Whitmire def. Alexandra Albu by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:01